Refuse container loading and transport assembly

ABSTRACT

For one-man operation of side-loading elevating and emptying and return of refuse containers and transport of the contents thereof, a laterally extensible container engaging and loading mechanism is manipulated by an operator to engage and lift a container adapted for such manipulation.

United States Patent [191 Blakeley et al.

REFUSE CONTAINER LOADING AND TRANSPORT ASSEMBLY Inventors: Clyde A.Blakeley; Joe M. Morgan,

both of Lubbock, Tex.

Assignee: Fabit Corporation, Lubbock, Tex.

Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 Appl. No.: 390,084

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 308,157, Nov. 20,1972, Pat. No. 3,773,197.

U.S. Cl 214/731, 214/302, 214/313, 214/730 Int. Cl B651 9/14 Field ofSearch 214/75 R, 302, 303, 313, 214/315, 730, 700, 701 P, 731, 89, 653,16.4 A

[ Oct. 29, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,643,7846/1953 Turner et a1 214/731 2,975,923 3/1961 Ulinski 3,001,655 9/1961Tippett 214/315 3,324,866 6/1967 Davis 214/302 3,338,438 8/1967 Holtkamp214/302 Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J.Oresky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ely Silverman [57] ABSTRACT For one-manoperation of side-loading elevating and emptying and return of refusecontainers and transport of the contents thereof, a laterally extensiblecontainer engaging and loading mechanism is manipulated by an operatorto engage and lift a container adapted for such manipulation.

6 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures REFUSE CONTAINER LOADING AND TRANSPORTASSEMBLY CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. The Field of the Invention The field ofthe invention is material handling wherein a storage bin type receiveris combined with a container emptying device and more particularly'to avehicle mounted device for lifting a refuse container and dumping therefuse into a receiver receptacle carried by the vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art While side loading truck loaders areknown, such apparatuses require operators to manually manipulate themeans by which to align and engage the to-be-emptied refuse containerswith the lifting and emptying mechanism. As a result, much of thedevelopment in current art has been to front end loaders. However,because of the usual back alley location of refuse containers, suchprior art front end loader systems require an impractically large amountof space for maneuvering of the vehicle or undesirably obstructivelocation of such to-beemptied refuse containers and require closepositioning of the containers prior to their handling.

The instant system and process and apparatuses do not requireobstructive location of containers and permits maximum vehicular trafficutilisation of the space of the roadway or alleyway in which the refusecontainers are loaded and also provides for a one-man operation forengaging loading, emptying and returning refuse containers and alsoprovides for manipulating the refuse containers gently and gradually asneeded with continuous usual surveillance and mechanical control of suchone-man operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an oblique isometric drawingof a container handling and transport assembly 20 from its left siderear and above in process of lifting a container 80.

FIG. 2A is a rear and top oblique view of the container 80. FIG. 2B is afront and top oblique view of the front of container 80 in Zone 2C ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 3 is an oblique isometric view of container handling and transportassembly 20 from its right side and rear and above in same stage asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic isometric view of the engagingassembly 27 in its compacted traveling position. FIG. 4A is a plan viewof Zone 48 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is the first of a series of diagrammatic frontal sectional viewsalong section 5 -5A of FIG. 2 of the assembly 27 in the sequence ofoperation of the container handling and transport assembly the spear arm55 is shown extended while the frames 40 and 50 are still in theircompacted position. FIGS. 7, 8, 9, I0 and 11 show subsequent stages ofoperation viewed as in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic isometric viewof assembly 27 enlarged to same scale as in FIG. 4 in a stage subsequentto that shown in FIG. 5 wherein the outer lateral frame 50 has beenmoved away from the inner or back frame 40 by the piston assembly 90 ina position whereat the arms 55 and 56 initially engage the carrier 80,as shown in FIG. 7. Assembly 32 is herein shown broken away in part.

FIG. 7 shows the front spear 55 in the expanded position of assembly 27initially engaging the container 80.

FIG. 8 shows the left arms engaging and lifting the container in thefully expanded position of frame 50.

FIG. 9 shows the lifted container in retracted position preparatory toraising the container 80.

FIG. 10 shows the lifted and raised container in initial stage of beingdumped.

FIG. 11 shows the raised container during dumping operation. FIG. 12 isa diagram of the hydraulic valve and piston control assembly for partsof engaging assembly 27.

FIG. I3 is an isometric diagram of the components of the elevatingassembly 100.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring diagram of theassembly 120 of operator switches to actuate the valves of controlassembly 90.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The one-man operator refusecontainer handling and transport system 19, according to this invention,com prises, in combination, a refuse container handling and transportassembly 20 and a refuse container 80 for use therewith.

The garbage container handling and transport assembly 20, according tothis invention, comprises a garbage transport or carrier tank truckassembly 21 with a container handling and loading assembly 22 inoperative combinations. The tank truck 21. comprises a sturdy wheeledsupport frame provided with front steering wheels 25A and 25B, and reartraction wheels 25C and 25D. The frame supports an internal combustionengine 23 as a power source and a steering gear 111, a transportreceptacle 26 and the container handling and loading assembly 22. Thesteering gear is operatively connected to the wheels 25A and 25B. Themotor 23 is operatively connected to the drive wheels 25C and 25D and isalso operatively connected to a pump 85 for pumping hydraulic fluid forhydraulic power transmission to components of the container handlingassembly 22. The handlling assembly 22 is firmly attached to andsupported on the frame 110 so that it may be positioned and maneuveredby positioning and maneuvering of the tank truck assembly 21. Apassenger cab 24 is located on the frame 110 of assembly 21. Controlsfor the motor 23 and the pump 85, the steering gear 1 I1 and the switchassembly 120, for controlling the container handling assembly 22 arelocated in cab 24 and a seat is provided in that cab for location of anoperator 30, which operator 30 controls the vehicle 21 and the containerhandling assembly 22.

Receptacle 26 is a rigid horizontally extending cylindrical rigid tank.It is closed at its sides, front and rear and open at its top at anintake opening 28. It is firmly supported on the frame III).

The tank 26 also has a rear discharge opening 29 in its rear wallcovered by discharge doom 29A and 29B and a cover 1128 for the opening28.

The container handling assembly 22 comprises a container engagingassembly 27 and an elevating assembly 100. The elevating assembly 100 issupported on the frame 110 and actuated by switches and powered byhydraulic and mechanical units which utilize the power of the motor 23of the tank truck assembly 21. Thereby, the elevating assembly 100 andthe frame 110 cooperate to support and move the container engagingassembly 27.

The elevating assembly 100, which is supported on frame 110 and actuatedby motor 23 of the tank truck assembly 21 as below described, isoperatively connected to and supports and moves the container engagingassembly 27 and any container, as 80, engaged thereby.

The container engaging assembly 27 is thus operatively and movablysupported on the truck 21 and moved by the elevating assembly 100 asbelow described.

The container engaging assembly comprises in operative combination, atrack assembly 31, an interior frame 40, a lateral frame 50, lift arms55 and 56, and a piston assembly 90.

The container engaging assembly 27 is arranged to engage and move agarbage container 80 and hold it while it is moved upwardly on the frame110 and above receptacle 26 so as to dump or empty the contents of thecontainer 80 into the upwardly open inlet 28 of the tank 26 and tocontinue engagement with the container while returning the emptycontainer 80 to a station therefor.

The track assembly 31 comprises a front vertically extending guidechannel rail or track 32 and a rear like guide channel rail or track 33.Rail 33, like rail 32, is in the overall shape of a downwardly openinverted U. The front track or rail 32 has a circular top track portion34 joined to and continuous with a vertical left side portion 35 and aright vertical portion 36. The rear track rail 33 has a circular toptrack portion 37, joined to and continuous with a vertical left sideportion 38 and vertical right side portion 39. The rails 32 and 33 areparallel to each other along their entire length and are longitudinallyspaced apart along the length of the tank 26 one near each end of saidtop opening of said receptacle. Generally, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and6, these rails are C-shaped in transverse cross section, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6.

The interior frame 40 is a flat rectangular rigid frame. It comprises afront vertical frame member 41, a rear vertical frame member 42, a tophorizontal frame member 43, a middle horizontal member 44, a bottomhorizontal member 45 and wheels, as 48 and 49. Members 41-45 are rigid,steel box-type girders of equal transverse cross section and are firmlyjoined together to form a flat rigid base movable as a unit by theelevating assembly 100. Each front and rear vertical member, as 41 and42, is provided with a top axle as axle 46 for member 41 and a bottomaxle as axle 47 for member 41. These axles are rigid cylindrical bars,each firmly affixed to the members 41 or 42 and are spaced apart fromeach other on each such member and extend forwardly and rearwardly offrame 40 and the axles are parallel to each other on each such member,as 41 and on both members 41 and 42, the members 41 and 42 beingparallel to each other. Axle 47 is parallel to the length of tophorizontal bar 43 and is located with its central longitudinal axis atthe level of the bottom surface of girder 43. Axle 49 extends with itscentral longitudinal axis parallel to the lower bar or girder 45 and islocated with its central longitudinal axis at the level of the topsurface of the girder 45. Rotatable wheels 48 and 49, respectively,rotate about such axles 46 and 47, respectively, and rotatably andslidably engage a groove or track in the front guide channel rail ortrack 32. The rear vertical frame member 42 similarly supports a similartop rear axle like 46 and a bottom rear axle such as 47, while wheelssuch as 48 and 49 are similarly rotatably located about such axle androtatably and slidably engage the rear track or guide rail 33.Fishplates may be used to reinforce the corners of frame and, further,truss members of the same transverse cross section as the other membersof frame 40 may run diagonally there across, as shown by truss members40', 41, 42, 43, 44' and in FIG. 6; such truss members are not shown inFIG. 4 for purposes of clarity. The interior frame 49, to which thelateral frame 50 and piston assembly 90 and lift arms and 56 areattached, is moved up and down the rails 32 and 33 by the elevatingassembly 100.

The frame 40 also comprises rigid laterally extending piston hingebrackets firmly attached thereto for pivotally supporting the inner endsof units of the piston assembly 60 and the upper front corner of frame40 has a from upper piston support bracket 62 to the front of rear edgeof member 41 and near to the junction of girder members 43 and 41 and,to rear of front edge of member 42 has firmly attached thereto nearjunction of members 43 and 42 a rear upper piston hinge support bracket64. The front lower corner of frame 40, to front of rear edge of member41 at the junction of member 41 and 45, has a front lower piston hingesup port bracket 63. The bottom rear portion of frame 40, in front offront edge of member 42 near junction of members 42 and 45, has a bottomrear hinge support 65, while the center member 44 supports, at itscenter, a center piston support bracket 66.

The brackets 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 each comprises two parallel rigidears as to 62 and 62" and support pins that are parallel to each otherand cylindrical for pivotal support of and movement thereabout of units92, 93, 94, and 96 of the piston assembly 90.

The lateral frame 50 is a rigid, flat rectangular frame comprising frontvertical member 51, rear vertical member 52, horizontal top member 53,and horizontal bottom member 54 and a center vertical member 59,together with front movable spear arm 55 and rear movable spear arm 56.

Members 51-54 and 59 are rigid steel box-type girders of equaltransverse section of the same size as members 41-45 and are firmlyjoined together to form a flat rectangular rigid frame movable as a unitby the members of piston assembly 60. The lateral frame 50 also includesa movable front spear arm 55 and a movable rear spear arm 56. Themovable rear spear arm 56 is pivotally attached at rear spear hinge ears58 and 58' to the rear vertical frame member 52 of frame 50, while thefront arm 55 is pivotally attached by front spear hinge ear 57 and 57'to the front vertical member frame 51 of the frame 50. The movable arm55 is a rigid steel plate, much longer from top to bottom than innerside to outer side, as shown in FIG. 4, or much longer from top tobottom than from front side to back side as shown in FIG. 6.

The rear arm 56 is a rigid plate of the same size and general shape asarm 55, and is a mirror image thereof.

Frame 50 also comprises rigid centrally extending piston hinge bracketsfirmly attached thereto for pivotally supporting the outer ends of unitsof the piston assembly.

The frame 50 is provided with double piston hinge support brackets 68and 69, each with three ears, as 69', 69 and 69", at the front and rearends of the upper horizontal member 53 and a piston hinge bracket 59 atmiddle of member 54.

The front spear arm 55 comprises a front arm end portion 72, a front armbase portion 73, a front arm base joint 70 and a front arm control hingejoint 74.

The rear end of base portion 73 has rigidly attached thereto andprojecting centrally base hinge plates 75 and 76 at the rear end thereof(rear as shown in FIG. 4, although central as shown in FIG. 6). A basehinge pin 77 is supported in front frame hinge ears 57 and 57' whichframe ears are each firmly attached to the front vertical frame armmember 51. Pin 77 passes through arm base hinge plates 75 and 76 andsuch hinge plates 75 and 76 and arm 55 pivot around pin 77 between thepositions of spear arm 55 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and form front arm basejoint 70.

Control hinge joint 74 comprises an upper and lower control joint ears78 and 79 and a pin 89 firmly supported thereby and extendingtherebetween. Hinge plates 75, 76, 78 and 79 extend inwardly (as shownin FIG. 4) from the inner face of front spear arm 55 (the inner facebeing to the left as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6).

The front spear arm 55 is a mirror image of the rear spear arm 56. Thedescription herein given of the front arm 55 is similar, therefore, tothe description of the right arm 56 and the components thereof aresubstantially the same, except that these elements are mirror images ofeach other. The components of arm 56 corresponding to the components ofarm 55 are illustrated with a referent numeral to which the letter A isadded. More particularly, the rear spear arm 56 comprises a rear arm endportion 72A, a rear arm base portion 73A, a rear arm joint 74A and hingeplates assembly 74A. The rear end of base portion 73A has rigidlyattached thereto a rear arm base joint 70A comprising hinge plates likehinge plates 75 and 76 at the front end thereof (front as shown in FIG.4, although central as shown in FIG. 6). A base hinge pin as 97 issupported in rear frame hinge ears as 58 (and 58' not shown, but like 57and 57, respectively) which ears are firmly attached to the rearvertical frame arm member 52. A pin like 77 passes through such ears andarm 56 pivots therearound between the position of spear arm 56 shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

The control hinge joint 74A comprises an upper and lower control jointcars like 78 and 79 and a pin 89A, like 89, firmly supported thereby andextending therebetween. Hinge plates of joints 74A and 70A extendinwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, from the inner face of rear spear arm 56,the inner face being to the left as shown in FIG. 4 and right as shownin FIG. 6.

The piston assembly 90 comprises a group of piston units 91-99, motor99, a group of hydraulic control valves 190-199, a group of solenoidvalve actuators 150-159 and 160-169, a group of flow control valves180-189 and a group of electrical control switches 170-179. The switchesare connected to and operate the solenoids; the solenoids are connectedto and actuate the corresponding hydraulic valves, and the hydraulicvalves 190-199 provide for the control of direction of hydraulic fluidto the corresponding piston units 91-99. The flow control valves 190-189control the rate of flow to the corresponding piston units. The pistonunits 92 through 96 move the outer frame 50 relative to the inner frame40 and also units 91 and 97 serve to move the arms 55 and 56 relative tothe outer frame 50 and further, the piston assembly includes a motor 99which forms a part of the elevating assembly 100 which moves the innerframe 40 relative to the frame of the vehicle 21.

The main components of the piston ssembly 90 is a front spear armcontrol piston unit 91, a top front piston unit 92, a bottom frontpiston unit 93, a top rear piston unit 94, a bottom rear piston unit 95,a center bottom piston unit 96, a rear spear piston unit 97, lid unit 98and motor 99.. Each of the piston units is a double-acting hydraulicpiston unit and like unit 94, is composed of a rigid cylindrical shellas 84 within which, in fluid tight sealing yet movable relation, is arigid piston head as 86 to which is firmly attached a rigid pistonshaft, as 89. Each shell, as 87, is provided with one shaft extensionchamber as 84 and another shaft retraction chamber as 83 to which thehydraulic lines from the control valve therefor, as 194 and for piston94, are operatively connected.

The shell of the piston unit 92 is firmly yet pivotally connected at itsupper end to the pin in the ears of the front top hinge brackets, 62'and 62" of hinge 62, while the free end of the movable piston shaft ofthe piston unit 92 is firmly yet pivotally connected to a pin in theears front top bracket 68 on the front frame. The shell of the pistonunit 93 is firmly yet pivotally connected at its lower end to the pin inthe ears of the front bottom hinge bracket 63, while the free end ofmovable piston shaft of piston unit 93 is firmly yet pivotally attachedto the pin around which the end of shaft 92 passes in the ears 68although, as shown in FIG. 6, to the rear thereof. The shell of pistonunit 94 is attached pivotally yet firmly at its upper end to a rigid pinon the ears of the rear top hinge bracket 64, while the shaft 62 of thatpiston is attached to the pin in the ears of the rear top hinge bracket69 of outer frame 50. The piston unit 95 is pivotally attached at thelower end of its shell to the pin on the ears of the lower rear hingebracket 65, while the free end of the movable shaft of that pistonassembly 95 is pivotally attached to the pin on the ears or brackets ofrear hinge bracket 69 on frame 50.

The shell of piston unit 96 is attached at its upper end to the pin heldby the ears or lugs of the middle hinge bracket 66 on frame 40, whilethe movable shaft end of that piston unit 96 is pivotally attached tothe pin held by the ears or lugs of the rear center hinge bracket 59 ofthe movable frame 50.

As below described detail, contraction of the piston units 92, 93, 94,95 and 96 provide for movement of the movable outer frame 50 towards theinner frame 40, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, while expansion of thepistons 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 provides for movement of and positioningof the frame 50 spaced away from and laterally of the frame 40, as shownin FIGS. 6, 7 and 6.

The piston assembly 90 also includes front and rear spear piston units91 and 97. Front spear piston unit 91 is pivotally attached at a pivotpin 61 to front portion 135 near the front end of the lower arm 54. Thelower frame arm 54 has firmly attached thereto extended portions 135 and136 at, respectively, its front and rear endsr Portion 135 extends tothe front of member 51 and portion 136 extends to the rear of member 52,respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. A front base arm portion131 of the extended portion 135 extends substantially in line with theplane of the flat surface formed by members 51, 52, 53 and 54 of frame50. A like rear arm base portion 132 of member 136, likewise, has itsfront surface coplanar, with such surface. Additionally, the front basearm portion 131 is connected at its front end to an inwardly extendingfront terminal portion 133 to which a upwardly extending front spearpivot pin 61 is firmly attached. The front spear piston unit 91 has itsshell pivotally attached to pin 61 and extends from the pin 61 to thepin 89 of the joint assembly 74.

Similarly, the extended portion 136 has an inwardly extending rearterminal arm 134 which is joined to the rear end of rear base arm 132,while the base arm 132 is firmly joined at its front to the rear member52 of the movable frame 50. At the rear end of the inwardly projectingrear terminal arm 134 is located a rear spear pivot pin 67. The rearspear piston unit 97 is located with its shell pivotally fixed to thatrear pin 67, while the movable end of the shaft of that piston unit 97is pivotally connected to a pin 89A of the joint assembly 74A on therear movable or spear arm 56.

The front spear piston unit 91 serves on expansion to move the frontspear arm 55 from its retracted position, whereat the length of thefront spear arm 55 extends parallel to the length of frame 50 armmembers 54 and 53, to the extended position of the spear arm 55, whichextended position is shown in FIG. 6 and in which position the arm 55extends perpendicularly to the members 52 and 54 of the frame 50; thismovement is reversed on contraction of the piston unit 91.

Similarly, the rear spear piston unit 97 serves on expansion to move therear spear arm 56 from its retracted position shown in H6. 4, whereatthe most lateral surface of that arm 56 is no further lateral than theouter face of the members forming the frame 50, to the expanded positionof the piston unit 97, wherein the arm 56 is firmly located so as toextend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer surface ofthe frame 50: in such extended positions of piston units 91 and 97, thearms 55 and 56 are parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. 6.

The control of the piston units of piston assembly 90 is through theconnections as diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. Moreparticularly and exemplary, piston 94 is controlled by the valve 194.The engine 23, under control of operator 30 in cab 24, drives a pump 85which drives liquid 86 in the hydraulic sump 81 under pressure to eitheran upper chamber as 84 of the piston unit 94 or to the opposing chamber83 for each of the units of assembly 90. Each valve as 194, in turn, isactuated to forward or reverse flow positioning of the valve core bysolenoid valves 164 and 154 and is spring centered. Actuation ofsolenoid valve as 164 drives the plug or core of the control valve as194 into a position whereat the high pressure fluid from the pump 85enters the upper chamber 84 of the piston unit 94 and extends the shaft82 thereof, while actuation of the solenoid 154 moves the valve core toprovide for passage of hydraulic fluid into the opposing chamber 83 andcauses the shaft 82 to move inward of the shell of the piston unit andcauses contraction of the piston unit 94, such contraction bringingtogether the pins in hinges 84 and 69. The rate of flow to each ofvalves 190-199 is controlled by flow control valves 180-189,respectively.

The valve 194, accordingly, controls passage of fluid to the piston unit94 and thereby controls its motion of expansion and contraction. Thevalve 165 similarly controls the passage of hydraulic fluid from thehigh pressure pump 85 to the piston unit to provide for either itsexpansion or contraction. The piston unit 92 is controlled as to itsexpansion and contraction by the valve unit 192; the piston unit 93 iscontrolled as to its contraction or expansion by the hydraulic valve193; the piston unit 96 is operatively connected to and similarlycontrolled as to its expansion or contraction by the hydraulic valve196. Each of valves 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196 and 197, 198 and199 are controlled by one solenoid, as 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165,166, 167, 168 and 169, respectively, for movement of the valve body tocause expansion of the piston units 91-97 and 99 and solenoid units 150,151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158 and 159 provide for reversemovement of such valves. The hydraulic valve 190 is operativelyconnected to and actuated by solenoids 160 and and is operativelyconnected to the chambers of piston units 192, 193, 194, 195 and 196directly so that movement of the one valve 190 provides for concurrentand simultaneous expansion of all of those units when the solenoid ofvalve 190 is actuated, while actuation of the reverse solenoid 150 ofvalve 190 provides for movement of the valve body or valve core of thevalve 190 so that hydraulic fluid is passed to the piston units 92, 93,94, 95 and 96 to provide for concurrent and simultaneous contraction ofall of such piston units. Each of valves 191 and 197 are operativelyconnected to piston units 91 and 97, respectively; additionally, thevalve 198 is operatively connected to the piston units 91 and 97 so thatmovement of the valve body or valve core of valve 198, by actuation ofthe solenoid 168 thereof, drives hydraulic fluid from the high pressureline of the discharge of pump 85 to the piston units 91 and 97 toprovide for expansion thereof while actuation of the solenoid 158 of thevalve 198 provides for simultaneous and concurrent contraction of suchpiston units; thereby, the piston units 91 and 97 are simultaneouslyactuated. As diagrammatically presented in FIG. 14, the motor 23provides for charging in conventional manner a battery 23B which isoperatively connected to a plurality of switches 170-179, each of whichswitches has two buttons or switches thereon. Switch 172 provides foractuation of either solenoid 162 or 152 and thereby controls separatelythe piston unit 92. Switch 173 separately controls solenoids 153 and 163for control of the hydraulic valve 193. Switch 174 is operativelyconnected to and similarly provides for actuation of solenoids 164 and154 of valve 194. Switch 175 is operatively connected to solenoids and155 for control similarly of valve 195, while switch 176 is operativelyconnected to solenoids 166 and 156 for similar control of the hydraulicvalve 196. The switch is similarly operatively connected to solenoids160 and 150 to provide for control of the master hydraulic valve 190 andthereby on actuation of that one switch, 170, to concurrently andsimultaneously actuate all of the piston units 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96.The switch 171 is operatively connected to solenoids 161 and 151 toprovide for control of the hydraulic valve 191. Switch 178 is connectedto solenoids 168 and 158 and accordingly provides for actuation of thehydraulic valve 198 so that hydraulic fluid under pressure from the pump85 may be passed concurrently and simultaneously to both of piston units91 and 97 to provide that those piston units expand, as shown in FIG. 6,or be contracted, as shown in FIG. 4.

The array of switches 170-179, accordingly, provides for concurrent orseparate actuation of the piston units 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 formovement of the girder members 51-54 of the outer frame 50 relative tothe inner frame 40, as shown in FIG. 6 from the inner contractedposition thereof as shown in FIG. 4 and the opposite motion.

Concurrent extension of piston units 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 causesmovement of girders 51-54 of frame 50 away from frame 40 from theposition of frame 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 while maintaining thegirders 51-54 of frame 50 at all times parallel to frame 40. Pivotallymounted truss bars, as 96A, 96B and 93A and 95A, are firmly attached tothe cylinders of piston units 96 and 93 and 95 and maintain the axes ofthe extendable shafts of such piston units at a right angle to thehorizontal member of frame 40 to which such piston units are co-axiallyand pivotally attached by the hinge members therefor. Separate extensionof piston units 92 and 94 causes a pivoting about pin of bracket 59 ongirder 54 clockwise, as seen in FIGS. 4 through 11. Separate extensionof piston unit 95 while piston units 92, 93, 94 and 95 are stationaryaswhen the spring return thereof holds the core of the control valvetherefor in the blocking or hold position thereof as is diagrammaticallyillustrated in FIG. 12the frame 50 pivots counterclockwise about thepins on the brackets 68 and 69, attached to the top horizontal girder53, as shown in FIGS. and 11.

Opposite (from the above) manipulation of switches 170-176 to effectconcurrent contraction of piston units 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 causesmovement of frame 50 towards frame 40 from the position of frame 50,

' shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, to the position of frame 50 relative toframe 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, while maintaining the girder members51-54 of frame 50 and frame 40 parallel to each other continuously.

Separate contraction of piston units 92, 93 and 96 and of units 94 and95 and 96 and of 92 and 94 and of unit 95 causes the opposite movementabove described for their extension.

The central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical piston unit 91, like inunit 94, is co-axial with the piston shaft therefor. The centrallongitudinal axis of piston unit 91 is coincident with a straight lineextending from the center of cylindrical pin 69 on arm portion 133 topin 89 of the hinge 74 of spear arm 55. As illustrated in FIG. 4A in thecompacted position of arm 55, the straight line extends forward of thepin 77 which is held by hinge plates 75 and 76 and front frame hingeears 57 and 57'. This straight line through the axis of piston unit 91also clearly extends forward of hinge pin 77 of front arm of base joint70 in the extended position of arm 55 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thespatial relation of longitudinal axis of piston unit 97, pin 67 on armportion 134 and the pin 89A on spear arm 56 and pin of rear arm basejoint A is functionally the same, although is mirror image relationshipas above described for piston unit 91 and pins 61 and 89 and 77. Theserelationships provide for a positive turning action of piston unit 91 onarm 55 and piston unit 97 on arm 56 on expansion and on contraction ofunit 91 and 97, respectively.

The movement of the spear arms 55 and 56 from their folded indrawn orcompacted position parallel to the girder members 51-54 and 59 of frame50, as in FIG. 4, to a expanded position extending in a direction awayfrom the frame 40, as in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, is simultaneouslyaccomplished by the operator actuating the solenoid 168 through theswitch 178. Hydraulic fluid then passes under pressure from the pump toboth of valves 191 and 192 and thence to both of piston units 91 and 92and causes extension of such units. On such concurrent actuation ofpiston units 91 and 92, arms 55 and 56 are brought from the positionthereof in FIG. 4 to the extended position thereof shown in FIGS. 5 and6 concurrently and simultaneously. On release of switch 178, the springcentering of the spring centered valve 198 returns the core of suchvalve to the blocking or hold position as illustrated therefor in FIG.12 and the piston units 91 and 92 then firmly hold the arms 55 and 56respectively in such extended position.

Concurrent contraction of piston units 91 and 97, as by oppositemanipulation of switch 178 to actuate solenoid 158 moves arms 55 and 56concurrently and simultaneously from the extended position thereof shownin FIGS. 5 and 6 to the compacted traveling position thereof shown inFIG. 4. On release of switch 178, the spring centering of the springcentered valve 198 returns the core of such valve to the blocking orhold position and holds those spear members in such compacted position.

The separate switches 171 and 177 for piston units allow additionallyseparate actuation of either arm 55 or arm 56 so that such arms,especially the front arm 55, may, in their extended position, act as aguide member to locate frame 50 of assembly 27 while moving the frame ofthe tank truck 21 relative to a container, as 80, to be engagedsubsequently by the arms 55 and 56.

In general, refuse container 80 is a rigid open-topped box provided witha hingedly attached lid 128 over the opening 28 therein and withhorizontally elongated sleeve or pocket means 201 and 201A forengagement by the spear arms 55 and 56 whereby the container is engaged,lifted, moved, held, tipped and emptied, lowered and returned to itsinitial location for later filling. The container 80 comprises a frontwall 119, rear wall 114, top deck 115, a bottom wall 116, inner wall117, outer wall 118. The top deck includes a pair of rigid lids 102 and103 over top opening 106, each fastened by a hinge 104 to a top platewall 105. Walls 105, 114, 116 and 117 are firmly joined at their edgesand enclose a chamber 107 in container 80. The front and rear walls eachhave firmly attached to their exterior surface a rigid horizontallyextending sleeve or pocket, as 201 on wall 119. The sleeve 201 has ahorizontal top wall 203, vertical side wall 202, and horizontal bottomwall 204 and includes a centrally and upwardly sloped upper top mouthplate 205 and a lower mouth plate 206 that is sloped downwardly andcentrally walls 202, 203, 204 and plates 205 and 206 are formed ofstrong rigid steel plate firmly connected together. Rigid top and bottombuttressing plates 207 and 208, respectively (and 207' and 208') arefirmly connected to the outer surface of wall 119 and to the top of topsleeve wall 203 and to the bottom of bottom sleeve wall 204,respectively and to the outer surface of wall 119. The sloped mouthplates 205 and 206 serve to guide the end 55? of arm 55 into the pocket209 formed between horizontal sleeve walls 203 and 204, as shown inFIGS. and 7. The rear edges of plates 203-206 are firmly attached, as bywelding, to container front wall 119; the lateral edge of plates 205 and206 are firmly attached to side walls 203 and 204 and encompass a frontsleeve mouth 219 and serve as a tapered guide to pocket 209. The rearcontainer wall 114 has a corresponding sleeve 201A with correspondingtop wall 202A, bottom wall 204A, mouth top plate 205A and bottom plate206A and encloses a rear sleeve pocket chamber 207A with a mouth 219A.Chambers 207 and 207A are accordingly open at one, central end butclosed at top, bottom and front or rear end.

For purpose of the above description of the container 80, the front end119 of the container is the end nearest the front end of the vehicle 21and assembly 27, the rear end of the container 80 is the end thereofnearest the rear end of the truck 21 and assembly 27; the innercontainer wall 117 is the container wall nearest truck 21 and assembly27 and the outer wall 118 is the wall of the container furthest from thetruck 21. Walls 116, I17 and 118 are rectangular, imperforate and flatand walls 117 and 118 are parallel to each other and perpendicular tobottom wall 116.

In operation, the operator 30 guides the apparatus 20 to an areaadjacent the location of a container as 80. Initially, the container 80,filled with refuse, is located at the side of a road 210 and theapparatus 20 is driven along the length of such road with the outerframe 50 in its compacted position and arms 55 and 56 in retractedposition, as shown in FIG. 4. The operator 30 steers the apparatus 20 toarray the frames 50 and 40 parallel to the inner face or wall 117 ofcontainer 80 and with the girders 51-54 of frame 50 spaced at a distancefrom wall 117 slightly more than the length of arm 55 with assembly 27in its compacted position. The operator may partially extend frame 50from frame 40 and while arm 56 is in its compacted position, as in FIG.4, extend arm 55 while backing up the apparatus 20 to the container 80to use such arm 55 as a guide to locate the point 55P of arm 55 (at endof portion 72 of arm 55) relative to the pocket 209 of container 80,then at its initial location 108. Then the operator, by use of switch170 on panel 120, retracts frame 50 relative to frame 40 and by switch177 extends arm 56 to the position shown in FIG. 5. Next, by switch 170,with arms 55 and 56 extended as in FIG. 6, the operator extends frame 50relative to frame 40, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The points 55F and 56Pof the extended arms 55 and 56 are spaced apart the same distance as thecenter of pockets 209 and 209A, respectively, on container 80, andsmoothly pass into such pockets. The apparatus 20 is sufficiently heavyand strong and forcefully actuated that the frame 50 may be used to pushthe edge of the container, e.g., the front edge of wall 117 (adjacentwall 119) if such edge be closer to the road 210 than the rear edge ofwall 117 (adjacent wall 114) or the rear edge of wall 117 if needed, tobring the face 117 parallel to the frame 40 prior to engaging the tipsof arms 55 and 56 in the pockets 209 and 209A. Also, as above describedif needed, the frame 50 may be tilted about an axis parallel to thebottom girder member 54 of frame 50 or about the top girder 53 or abouta vertical axis passing through bracket 62 and 63 or about a verticalaxis passing through bracket 64 and 65 to expedite the location of arms55 and 56 in pockets 209 and 209A of container 80.

On initial actuation of the lifting assembly, the frames 50 and 40 areslightly lifted in tracks 32 and 33, and container is accordingly liftedfrom its prior location 108 by the arms 55 and 56, as shown in FIG. 8.Frame 50 is then retracted, as shown in FIG. 9 and moved closer to theframe 40.

After such inward movement engagement to position as shown in FIG. 9,the lid 128 of receptacle 26 is opened and the lifting assembly liftsthe assembly 27 and the container 80 thereon to the position shown inFIG. 10. Expansion of the piston unit 96 then rotates the frame 50 andcontainer 80 thereon, as shown in FIG. 11 about an axis parallel tomember 53 of frame 50 and contents 60 of container 80 are emptied intothe chamber of transport receptacle 26.

Following emptying of the container 80, it is moved from position ofFIG. 11 by contraction of the piston unit 96 to the position thereof asshown in FIG. 10, lid 128 is closed and the piston assembly 60, theassembly 27 actuated so that frames 50 and 40 are brought to theircompacted and flattened position, as shown in FIG. 9 and the container80 is lowered to the position thereof shown in FIG. 9 with the bottom ofcontainer 80 above the ground, so that assembly 27 continues to supportthat container: the operator 30 then extends frame 50 from frame 40, asabove described, to relocate the container 80 above its prior location108. The elevating assembly 100 is then operated by operator 30 to lowerthe assembly 27 and container 80 thereon and locate container 80 at itsinitial location with its weight resting entirely on the ground or othersupport at such location, as in FIG. 7. Then, by switch 170, theoperator contracts piston units 92-96 and withdraws the arms 55 and 56from the pockets 209 and 209A to bring the assembly 27 to theorientation of parts shown in FIG. 5. Then the arms 55 and 56 are drivenby switch 170 to the contracted position shown in FIG. 4.

Thereupon, the apparatus 20 is moved to another location to again alignthe assembly 27 with another container as 80, and engage it with arms 55and 56, lift it, dump it and return such other container to itslocation. Each such operation is controlled by the operator 30 in thecab 24 using the control assembly and observing and controlling theoperation as needed from the cab through a standard side mirror, as 112,and a periscope 109 to provide for view of the dumping operation of FIG.11 in particular, as well as the separate stages of steering and themovement to the separate stages shown in FIGS. 5-11 and back again. Oneoperator, 30, handles all components of the system.

The elevating assembly 100 comprises a variable displacementbidirectional motor 99, a shaft 221, reels 222 and 223, cables 224 and225, a spring centered, solenoid controlled hydraulic central valve 199and switch 179, in operative connection. The motor 99 is driven by valve199 under control of switch 179 on assembly 120 in the cab 24 and isfirmly supported on the frame of vehicle 21. The shaft 221 is rotatablysupported on frame 110 and drives reels 222 and 223. Reels 222 and 223each hold one end of cables 224 and 225 respectively. Cable 224 passesthrough front track 32, cable 25 passes through track 33: the other endof cable 224 is attached to an ear 226 on front end of member 41 ofinner frame 40: the other end of cable 225 is attached to a like ear 227on rear of frame member 42 of inner frame 40. Accordingly, the operator30 readily controls the time and direction of movement of the frame 40(and hence frame 50) while in cab 24.

In the preferred embodiment, dimensions are as follows: Container 80 (3cu. yard size):

Container 80 (3 cu. yard size):

Wall 114 to wall 119 58 inches Pocket (209) length 16 inches Pocket(209) height 8 inches Mouth 219, max. length l2 inches Month 219, height14 inches From front of Pocket 209 to wall l l7 l6 inches From rear ofPocket 209 to wall 1 l8 16 inches Height of pocket over floor I I6 14%inches Height of wall 1 17 42 inches Height of wall 118 53 inchesMaterial. steel, thickness 12 guage The pocket may be added to usualpickup containers for use with the system 19.

All brackets of frames 40 and 50 spaced 13/ l 6 inches apart Centerbrackets are 1-l/l6 inches thick Other brackets are 1 inch thickDistance from pin 77 to 89 is 5.8 inches, pin 89 is 1 inch diameterWheels 48 and the like are 4 inches diameter.

Tracks 32 and 33 are 4-%inches inside width and provided with greasefittings and are made of sturdy, rigid steel.

Outer frame 50 is 60 inches from front edge of member 51 to rear ofmember 52 and l4- /inches from bottom of 55 to bottom of arm 55.

Overall height from pin in hinge of 59 to pin of 68 is 36- /rinches (ashoulder may be placed on top of girder 53 to raise the support forhinges 68 and 69).

Container 26 is 1842 feet long.

Container 26 is 6-10 feet diameter and up to 13 feet high.

The above dimensions are exemplary only.

A rigid straight horizontal bar 241 extends on the right side of tank 26near its top from the rear of track 32 to the front of track 33 and isfirmly attached at its front to track 32 and is firmly attached at itsrear to track 33. The cylinder of a double-acting piston unit 98, whichhas a structure identical to that of unit 94, is pivotally attached toan ear 242 which is fixedly at tached to the top of bar 241 at itsmiddle and extends upwardly therefrom (FIG. 13). The outer end of pistonshaft 244 of the piston unit 98 is pivotally attached to r a pivotbracket at the outer end of a lid control arm 229 which is a rigid bar,while the other, base, end of arm 229 is rigidly attached to the lid 128close to the lid hinge 228 therefor.

Tracks 32 and 33 are each formed of rigid steel C- sections and each isfirmly attached at its bottom to the frame 110 and, further up, each isalso firmly attached to the tank 26; the tank 26 is also firmly attachedto the frame 110.

The valve 199 that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the pistonunit 98 to actuate the shaft 244 thereof is the spring centered solenoidactuated valve 199 actuated by solenoid 169 to retract the piston 244and solenoid 159 to advance it. The switch 170, which provides foractuating the elevating mechanism valve 99, thereby so actuating thepiston unit 98 as well as the piston unit 99, as diagrammatically shownin FIGS. 12 and 13 and 14. Thereby, piston shaft 244 is actuated whenthe elevating assembly 100 is actuated to begin to open the lid 128 assoon as the: assembly 27 begins to be raised from position of FIG. 9 andfully open it be fore container is dumped into 28 and begins to closethat lid when the assembly 27 begins to return to its lowered position,as shown in FIG. 9.

This invention thus provides an apparatus 20 and system 19 to effect theabove-described process of handling and emptying refuse containers as80. In summary, such process comprises the following steps:

Step I: Locating the side of a longitudinally elongated receptacle as 26on a vehicle as 21 to bring its top opening 28 abreast of the container80 with container 80 spaced laterally, as shown in FIG. 5, from vehicle21. The container has a content of refuse 60 and such container also hasa top opening 106 and a bottom 114 spaced away from each other withdimensions generally as above described for a three cubic yardcontainer.

Step 2: Moving the rigid frame assembly 27 with its container engagingarms 55 and 56 laterally from the vehicle 21 and extending the containerengaging arms 55 and 56 from the lateral outline of the frame units 40and 50 toward the refuse container 80.

Step 3: Moving the container engaging arms 55 and 56 into the pockets ofthe sleeves 201 and 201A, followed by moving the assembly 27 upslightly, through the assembly 100, to support the container on sucharms, by engaging such arms and sleeves.

Step 4: Lifting the frames 40 and 50 and the container 80 off its formersupport and moving frame 50 and the container 80 thereon toward thevehicle 21 while bringing the assembly 27 into its compact positionshown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

Step 5: Raising the frame 40 and the container 80 thereon along and atthe side of vehicle 21 while opening the lid 128 to the receptacle topopening 28.

Step 6: Pivoting (relative to frame 40) the top of the container held onframe 50 in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 10 (or in adirectional lateral of the receptacle 26) while the container and theframe 50 pass centrally over the top by operator 30, or a programmedautomatic procedure, selectively actuating extensible piston linkelements 92 and 94 to tilt the rigid outer frame 50 with respect to theinner frame 40 while contracting the piston unit element 96 andexpanding pis ton units 93 and 95. Such extension of piston units 94 and92 and rotation of the exterior frame 50 clockwise, as shown in theFIGS. 10 and 11, or laterally of the tank 26, with the container 80 heldrelative to the frame 40, prevents leaking or discharge of the contentsof the container 80, as it initially passes over the sloped and- /orcurved top of the container 26. This rotation prevents or delaysdischarge of the contents of the container 80 until the tipping of thecontainer 80 is rapidly effected (in step following) by contraction ofpiston units 92 and 94 and extensions of pistons 96 after location ofthe container 80 with the center of its opening I06 substantially overthe center of the tank opening 28. This step is accomplished utilizingthe same components that were used to provide for contraction andexpansion of the assembly 27 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to thatshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 so that no additional components are required forthis additional movement.

Step 7: Moving the top of the container 80 downward as the bottom of thecontainer 114 is moved upward to a position above the opening 106 andemptying the contents 60 of the container 80 into the receptacle opening28; this provides for a lack of leaking of the contents of the container80 prior to when the dumping is begun, thus there isnt any substantialamount of tilting prior to the complete emptying of the container 80into the tank 26. This avoids what would otherwise be a very undesirabledribbling of overflow from a container that had a large amount of highmoisture garbage therein.

Step 8: Returning container 80 to side of vehicle 21 in uprightcondition by extension of the cables 224 and 225 to allow the weight ofthe assembly 27 and container 80 to return the container on thatassembly downward.

However, the control of the pump 85 through a switch 235 provides for abraking of the downward movement of the assembly 27 and the container 80thereon. The mechanism for closing the lid 128 and moving the assembly27 are so connected that the lid 128 is automatically closed over thereceptacle opening 28 no later than the time of return of the container80 to the side of the vehicle in the upright condition, as shown in FIG.9.

Step 9: Through the periscope 109 and mirror, as 112, the operator 30may survey the operation of engaging, lifting, pivoting and emptying soas to control such steps through the switch assembly 120 in the cab 24.

Because of the separate control of the frame 50, with its arms 55 and 56in compacted condition, as shown in FIG. 4, the operator, followinglocation of the receptacle 26 with its opening 28 abreast of thecontainer as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and while in cab 24, the operator30 may move the rigid frame 50 to contact the refuse container 80 andforcefully move the container 80 to be parallel to the rigid frame 50,as well as 40. After so locating the receptacle, he moves frame 50inward toward the vehicle 21, while still in compact condition.Following this, the container engaging arms 55 and 56 are extended fromthe frame 50 following which the arms 55 and 56 are engaged with thecontainer sleeves 201 and 201A, as above described, through manipulation of control assembly 120 by the operator within the cab 24.

In this operation, the interior and exterior curved lips of each oftracks 32 and 33 hold the wheels, as wheels 48 and 49 in track 32, andthereby hold the frame 50 for movement within and along the tracks 32and 33.

This structure of the tracks 32 and 33 prevents the frame 50 fromtipping, i.e., pivoting laterally about arm 45 or 43 and permits controlof the position of the frame 40 relative to the tank 26 during themovement of the assembly 27 and the container 80 thereon, as abovedescribed and shown in FIGS. 4-1 I. The control, via assembly 120 of theframe 50 relative to the tank 28, permits the operator 30 in the cab 24to most effectively control the above-described operations.

The distance from the bottom of container support 55 to the top bar, as53, of outer frame 50 is the same as the distance from the bottom sleevewall 204 to the top opening 306 of the container t) adjacent the innerside wall 117. This provides for support of the tilted container 80 onthe frame 50 during the tilting operation and emptying operation shownin FIG. II.

The centers of sleeves 201 and 201A (measured between the inner wall 117and outer wall 118) are vertically below the center of gravity of thecontainer 80 in the positions of FIGS. 5 and 7 so as to provide the moststable support to the container 80 in the position of parts shown inFIGS. 10 and ii.

The container 80 has a content of refuse which is predominantly solid,e.g., cans, paper, and compressable and composed of large particulatematerial or masses from pea-size (one-quarter inch diameter) to one-footsquare package size. The term refuse includes garbage (60-70 percentmoisture content), as well as rubbish (25-35 percent moisture content).

Because the lugs, as 62' and 62" of the hinges, as 62, as well as theother hinges (59-66), are heavy and wide and parallel to each other andclosely embraced, the pivotal attachments of the piston units, as 92-96thereto, the shafts of piston units 92-96 extend and retract insubstantially parallel planes, although the planes in which extensionand retractions occur are spaced apart from each other along the lengthof the frame 40 and tank 26.

Sturdy rigid diagonally extending steel truss bars as 96A and 96B (shownin FIG. 6) are firmly attached and fixed, as by welding, at their outerends to the outer or shaft end of the piston cylinder of the piston unit96. At the inner end of each such truss bar, as 96A, there is a lug, as96L, whereby such bar is pivotally attached at its inner end to frame 50by a pivot pin in a hinge (96C for shaft 96A) and the same structure isprovided (at hinge 96D) for truss bar 96B. Each such truss bar hinge isformed of rigid truss bar hinge brackets (similar to brackets 62' and62"); each of such truss bar hinge brackets is firmly attached to thecenter horizontal rigid frame member 44. Each of the rear and frontcentral piston unit hinge brackets 96C and 96D is spaced away slightlyfrom (respectively to rear and front of) the central hinge 66 so thatthe length of the straight bars 96A and 968 will be at some substantialangle, e.g., 45, to cylinder of piston unit 96 to provide strongmechanical support to the cylinder of piston unit 96.

Similar sturdy rigid truss bars 93A and 95A are similarly connected tothe piston cylinder of piston units 93 and 95 respectively and hingeplates 93C and 95C, respectively. Hinges 93C and 95C on member 45 aresimilar to hinges 96C and 96D and are firmly attached to lowerhorizontal frame member 45 of frame 40 with such hinge plates locatedspaced away from the hinges 63 and for piston units 93 and 95,respectively. The brackets of hinges 96C and 96D have pins with pivotalaxes that are coaxial with each other and with the pivotal axis of pinof hinge 66 for the cylinder of piston unit 96; the brackets of hinges93C and 95C have cylindrical pins with pivotal axes that are coaxialwith each other and with the pivotal axis of pins in hinges 63 and 63for the cylinders of piston units 93 and 95, respectively. Such trussbars provide, through the attachment of piston units 93, 95, 96 to theframe 50, support against longitudinal stress (stress parallel to lengthof frame 50) for frame 40 relative to frame 50 and resist any tendencyfor skewing of frame 50 relative to frame 40 during load-bearingoperations of the assembly 27, especially during its extended position,as illustrated in FIG. 7. The truss bars 96A, 96B, 93A and 95A, throughtheir attachment to the cylinders, maintain the axes of the extendableand retractable shafts of piston units 93, 95 and 96 (and thereby, theremaining piston units also) at right angles to the horizontal member offrame 40 to which member such piston units are pivotally attached by thehinge members therefor (63, 65 and 66, respectively).

The wheels 25C and 25D of the vehicle are the conventional automotivetruck vehicle drive wheels that rotate about horizontal axes in planesparallel to the direction of the length of the frame 110 and tank 26,while the front steering wheels 25A and 25B are supported pivotally aswell as rotatably supported for pivoting about vertical axes whilerotating about horizon tal axes.

Assembly 22 may be located as a mirror image 322 of the assembly 22 asabove described, i.e., with the motor 98 and reels 223 and 222 ofassembly 100 on the left side of vehicle 21 and the assembly 27 locatedon the right side of vehicle 21 to pick up containers as 80, on theright side of the vehicle 21 rather than as shown with motor 99, on theright and assembly 27 on left side of tank 26, as in FIGS. 1 and 3. Theoutline of the track assembly (as 31 of assembly of such mirror imageassembly 322 is shown in FIG. 3. Also, the system 19 may include theapparatus 22 as shown and another mirror image thereof as 322 to providefor engaging and lifting containers on either side of truck assembly 21;then the mirror image assembly 322 is located and operated to the rearof such assembly 22, such second assembly being located in the positionshown in FIG. 3 with another opening 328 in the tank 26 to the rear ofopening 26.

In summary, system 19 embodies the concept of a side loading receptacle(26)carrying vehicle assembly 20 with only one operator required, thatautomatically manipulates a container 80 to align such container asneeded and extends and retracts arms 55 and 56 to engage and disengagesuch container holding means 55 and 56 with such refuse container 80.System 19 also utilizes the ready back and forth maneuverability of thevehicle 21 relative to the pockets 201 and 201A of the container 80while compensating, by extensible frame assembly 27, for the lack ofrapid accurate controlled sideways movement of such wheeled support (21)for the container engaging means. The structure 20 also permits dumpingthe contents of the refuse container without dripping or dribbling priorto rapid emptying of contents 60 of container 80 into the tank opening28 and avoids forceful and noisy engagement of the to-be-emptiedcontainer on the body or frame of the receptacle into which the contents60 of such refuse container is to be emptied.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling, lifting, emptying and returning a containercomprising a container handling and transport assembly, said containerhandling and transport assembly comprising a wheeled support frame, anelevator assembly supported on the wheeled support frame, and acontainer engaging assembly movably supported by said elevator assemblyframe,

I. Said wheeled support frame comprising a rigid base frame, amechanical power source on said base frame, a steering assemblycomprising steering wheels operatively attached to the frame andtraction wheels operatively connected to said power source; a refusereceptacle supported on said wheeled support frame and open at its top,at a top opening for said receptacle, a top lid movable over said topopening into opening and closing relationship therewith; means forclosing and opening said lid over said top opening attached to said lid,and

2. Said elevator assembly comprising a track assembly and a frame movingmeans,

a. Said track assembly comprising a pair of parallel rigid verticallyextending tracks, both of said tracks firmly attached to the base frameand longitudinally spaced apart along the said frame, one near each endof said top opening of said receptacle, each track also extendingupwards along one side of said receptacle and over a portion of the topthereof;

b. the frame moving means comprising a power source supported on saidbase frame and operatively connected to said container engagingassembly;

3. Said container engaging assembly comprising an expansible frameassembly, a container engaging means, and a positioning control assemblytherefor, said container engaging means supported on said expansibleframe assembly, which assembly is movably supported on said track meansand operatively connected to said frame moving means;

a. Said expansible frame assembly comprising an interior frame, anexterior frame with a container engaging means and a control andpositioning assembly;

i. The interior frame comprising rigid vertically spaced aparthorizontally extending upper and lower members and rigid horizontallyspaced apart vertically extending front and rear members firmly joinedtogether and forming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame alsoincluding movable support means extending to and movably held on saidtrack assembly, said frame moving means comprising power means and powertransmission means connected thereto for moving said interior framealong said track means by support means connected to said interiorframe;

ii. The exterior frame comprising vertically spaced apart horizontallyextending exterior frame front and rear vertical members andhorizontally spaced apart vertically extending exterior frame horizontaltop and bottom members firmly joined together to form a rigid outerframe located lateral of said interior frame;

b. Said container engaging means comprising rigid container arm supportmeans movably supported on said exterior frame and extensible at rightan- 4. Said frame control and positioning means comprising means forsupporting said outer frame on said inner frame and for moving saidouter frame toward and away from said inner frame and for pivoting saidouter frame about horizontal axes relative to said inner frame, andwherein said frame control and positioning means comprises, in operativecombination, a plurality of extensible doubleacting piston units, eachsuch piston unit comprisunits, separate control means for said secondpiston units and separate control means for said third piston unit, and

e. Means for surveillance of said top opening and lid located adjacentsaid first and second control means, said first control means and saidsecond control means and said separate control means and said means forsurveillance being located in a zone adjacent said drivers seat.

3. Apparatus for remotely controlled handling, lifting, emptying andreturning a container comprising a container handling and transportassembly, said container handling and transport assembly comprising awheeled support frame, an elevator assembly supported on the wheeledsupport frame, and a container engaging assembly movably supported bysaid elevator assembly ing a piston cylinder and an extensible shaft lI. Said wheeled support frame comprising a rigid therein, each suchpiston unit having a pivotal conbase frame with a length and a width, amechanical nection means at each end thereof; power source on said baseframe, a steering assema. One pair of said piston units extending from ably comprising left and right front steering wheels first pair ofco-axial pivotal connections at the on left side and right siderespectively of said front and rear upper portions of the inner framewheeled support frame operatively attached to the to a second pair ofco-axial pivotal connections frame and left and right rear tractionwheels on left at the front upper and rear upper portion of said sideand on right side respectively of said wheeled outer frame; supportframe operatively connected to said power b. A second pair of pistonunits each vertically source; said front and rear wheels spaced apartspaced away from and below said first piston along the length of saidwheeled support frame, units and extending from a third pair of co-axialsaid traction wheels rotating in the direction of said points of pivotalattachment on said inner frame length of said wheeled support frame; arefuse reto a fourth pair of coaxial pivotal connections on ceptaclesupported on said wheeled support frame the outer frame near the lowerportion of said and having a top and open at its top at a top openouterframe, said third pivotal connections and ing for said receptacle, and acab on said wheeled said first pivotal connections being verticallysupport frame, spaced apart from each other in one direction 2. saidelevator assembly comprising a track assemand said fourth pivotalconnections and said secbly and a frame moving means, 0nd pivotalconnections being vertically spaced a. said track assembly comprising apair of parallel apart from each other in the same one direction, rigidvertically extending tracks longitudinally and spaced apart along thelength of said base frame, c. A third piston unit extending from a fifthpivotal one of said track near the front end and other connection on thelower portion of said inner track near the rear end of said top opening,each frame to a sixth pivotal connection on the upper track having alower vertical portion extending portion of said outer frame,said fifthpivotal conupwards along one side of said receptacle and nection on saidouter frame and said sixth pivotal lateral thereto, said lower portioncontinuous connection being vertically spaced apart, and with an upperportion of said track which upper d. Said sixth pivotal connection beingco-axial with portion extends to and over a portion of the top saidsecond pivotal connections, said movable of the receptacle and thereextends transversely support means comprising a plurality of wheels tothe length ofsaid base frame toward the other on each side of saidframe, each said wheel loside of the receptacle to a position whereataporcated in operative engagement with one of said tion of said topopening is located below and betrack means, each said track means havingone tween said top portions of said tracks, ledge extending centrallyand one ledge extendb. the frame moving means comprising a power inglaterally of each such wheel. source supported on said base frame andopera- 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 comprising also, in operativelyconnected to said container engaging astive connection, sembly;

a. A drivers seat, controls for said steering assembly 3. said containerengaging assembly comprising a and power source adjacent said driversseat, bodily laterally extensible frame assembly and a b. First controlmeans operatively connected to all of container engaging means and apositioning consaid double-acting pistons to concurrently expand trolassembly therefor, said container engaging or contract all of said firstpair of piston units, said means supported on said laterally extensibleframe second pair of said piston units and said third pisassembly, whichextensible frame assembly is movton units, ably supported and isoperatively connected to said c. And second control means operativelyconnected frame moving means and is extensible bodily horito said framemoving means and, for concurrent zontally from one position located atthe side of operation thereof, to said means for closing said lid saidapparatus and lateral of the outline of said over said top opening,wheeled support frame and the wheels thereon to d. And separate controlmeans for said first piston a second position further lateral thereof atthe bottom of said track assembly whereby to engage a container locatedlaterally of the lateral outline of said apparatus and supported on theground;

a. said extensible frame assembly comprising a rigid interior frame andan exterior rigid frame with a container engaging means and a framecontrol and positioning assembly therefor operatively connected thereto;

i, the interior frame comprising horizontally extending rigidhorizontally spaced apart front and rear members spaced apart along thelength of said wheeled support frame and firmly joined together andforming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame also including movablemeans operatively connected to said track assembly, said frame movingmeans comprising remote control means in said cab and power means andpower transmission means connected thereto for moving said interiorframe along support means connected to said interior frame;

ii. the exterior frame comprising a horizontally extending exteriorframe member and horizontally spaced apart vertically extending exteriormembers also spaced apart along length of said wheeled support frame andfirmly joined together to form a rigid outer frame bodily locatedlateral of said interior frame and lateral to said wheeled support frameand the wheels thereon;

b. said container engaging means comprising rigid container arm supportmeans supported on said exterior frame and extending from said exteriorframe, and movable yet firm positioning means on said exterior frameconnected to said container arm support means to position said. rigidcontainer arm support means on said'exterior frame;

4. said frame control and positioning means comprising means forsupporting said exterior frame on said interior frame and remote controlmeans and power means operatively connected thereto for shifting theexterior frame relative to the interior frame; and comprising also meansfor pivoting and inverting said exterior frame about a horizontal axisrelative to said interior frame at top of said track assembly, saidmeans to pivot said exterior frame including means operatively connectedto said exterior frame and said interior frame to pivot and invert saidexterior frame, wherein said means to pivot and invert is shiftableduring extension and retraction of said exterior frame.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 comprising also a top lid movable over saidtop opening into opening and closing relationship therewith and meansfor closing and opening said lid over said top opening operativelyattached to said lid.

5. Apparatus for remotely controlled handling, lifting, emptying andreturning a container comprising a container handling and transportassembly, said container handling and transport assembly comprising awheeled support frame, an elevator assembly supported on the wheeledsupport frame, and a container engaging assembly movably supported bysaid elevator assembly frame.

I. Said wheeled support frame comprising a rigid base frame with alength and a width, a mechanical power source on said base frame, asteering assembly comprising left and right front steering wheels onleft side and right side respectively of said wheeled support frameoperatively attached to the frame and traction wheels operativelyconnected to said power source, said front and rear wheels spaced apartalong the length of said wheeled support frame, said traction wheelsrotating in the direction of said length of said wheeled support frame;a refuse receptacle supported on said wheeled support frame and having atop and open at its top at a top opening for said receptacle, a top lidmovable over said top opening into opening and closing relationshiptherewith, means for closing and opening said lid over said top openingoperatively attached to said lid, and a cab on said wheel supportedframe,

2. said elevator assembly comprising a track assembly and a frame movingmeans,

a. said track assembly comprising a pair of parallel rigid verticallyextending tracks, both of said tracks firmly attached to the base frameand longitudinally spaced apart along the length of said base frame, oneof said tracks near the front end and other near the rear end of saidtop opening, each track having a lower vertical portion extendingupwards along one side of said receptacle and lateral thereto, saidlower portion continuous with an upper portion of said track which upperportion extends to and over a portion of the top of the receptacle andthere extends transversely to the length of said base frame toward theother side of the receptacle to position whereat a portion of said topopening is located below and between said top portions of said tracks,

b. the frame moving means comprising a power source supported on saidbase frame and operatively connected to said container engagingassembly;

3. Said container engaging assembly comprising a laterally expansibleframe assembly and a container engaging means, and a remote positioningcontrol assembly therefor, said container engaging means supported onsaid laterally expansible frame assembly, which expansible frameassembly is movably supported on said track means and operativelyconnected to said frame moving means, and is extensible horizontallybodily from one position located at the side of said apparatus andlateral of the outline of said wheeled support frame and the wheelsthereon to a second position further lateral thereof at the bottom ofsaid track assembly whereby to engage a container located laterally ofthe lateral outline of said apparatus and supported on the ground,

a. said expansible frame assembly comprising an interior frame, anexterior rigid frame with a container engaging means and a frame controland positioning assembly therefor operatively connected thereto;

i. the interior frame comprising rigid vertically spaced aparthorizontally extending upper and lower members and rigid horizontallyspaced apart vertically extending front and rear members spaced apartalong the length of said wheeled support frame and firmly joinedtogether and forming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame alsoincluding movable support means extending to and movably held on saidtrack assembly, said frame moving means comprising remote control meansin said cab and power means and power transmission means connectedthereto for moving said interior frame along said track means by supportmeans fourth pair of co-axial pivotal connections on the outer framenear the lower portion of said outer frame, said third pivotalconnections and said first pivotal connections being vertically spacedapart connected to said interior frame; from each other in one directionand said fourth ii. the exterior frame comprising vertically pivotalconnections and said second pivotal conspaced apart horizontallyextending exterior nections being vertically spaced apart from eachframe front and rear vertical members and horother in the same onedirection, and izontally spaced apart vertically extending ex- Athird.piston unit extending from a fifth pivotal terior frame horizontaltop and bottom memconnection on the lower portion of said inner bersfirmly joined together to form arigid outer frame to a sixth pivotalconnection on the upper frame located lateral of said interior frame andportion of said outer frame, said fifth pivotal conlateral to saidwheeled support frame and the nection on said outer frame and said sixthpivotal wheels thereon; connection being vertically spaced apart, and b.said container engaging means comprising rigid 5 d. Said sixth pivotalconnection being co-axial with container arm support means movablysupported said second pivotal connections, said movable supon saidexterior frame and extensible at right anport means comprising aplurality of wheels on gles from said exterior frame, and extension andeach side of said frame, each said wheel located in retraction means onsaid outer frame connected operative engagement with one of said trackto said container arm support means to position means, each said trackmeans having one ledge exsaid rigid container arm support means on saidexterior frame;

tending centrally and one ledge extending laterally of each such wheel.

4 ing means for supporting said outer frame on said 4. Said framecontrol and positioning means compris- 6. Apparatus as in claim 5comprising also, in operative connection,

inner frame and remote control means and power a. A drivers seat,controls for said steering assembly means operatively connected theretofor moving said outer frame toward and away from said inner frame andfor pivoting said outer frame about horizontal axes relative to saidinner frame at top of and power source adjacent said drivers seat,

b. First control means operatively connected to all of saiddouble-acting pistons to concurrently expand or contract all of saidfirst pair of piston units, said said track assembly, and wherein saidframe consecond pair of said piston units and said third pistrol andpositioning means comprises, in operative ton units, combination, aplurality of extensible doublec. And second control means operativelyconnected acting piston units, each such piston unit compristo saidframe moving means and, for concurrent ing a piston cylinder and anextensible shaft operation thereof, to said means for closing said lidtherein, each such piston unit having a pivotal conover said topopening, nection means at each end thereof; d. And separate controlmeans for said first piston One pair of said piston units extending froma first units, separate control means for said second pispair ofco-axial pivotal connections at the front and ton units and separatecontrol means for said third rear upper portions of the inner frame to asecond piston unit, and pair of co-axial pivotal connections at thefront e. Means for surveillance of said top opening and lid upper andrear upper portion of said outer frame; located adjacent said first andsecond control means, said first control means and said second b. Asecond pair of piston units each vertically control means and saidseparate control means and spaced away from and below said first pistonunits said means for surveillance being located in a zone and extendingfrom a third pair of co-axial points adjacent said drivers seat, ofpivotal attachment on said inner frame to a

1. Apparatus for handling, lifting, emptying and returning a containercomprising a container handling and transport assembly, said containerhandling and transport assembly comprising a wheeled support frame, anelevator assembly supported on the wheeled support frame, and acontainer engaging assembly movably supported by said elevator assemblyframe,
 1. Said wheeled support frame comprising a rigid base frame, amechanical power source on said base frame, a steering assemblycomprising steering wheels operatively attached to thE frame andtraction wheels operatively connected to said power source; a refusereceptacle supported on said wheeled support frame and open at its top,at a top opening for said receptacle, a top lid movable over said topopening into opening and closing relationship therewith; means forclosing and opening said lid over said top opening attached to said lid,and
 2. said elevator assembly comprising a track assembly and a framemoving means, a. said track assembly comprising a pair of parallel rigidvertically extending tracks, both of said tracks firmly attached to thebase frame and longitudinally spaced apart along the length of said baseframe, one of said tracks near the front end and other near the rear endof said top opening, each track having a lower vertical portionextending upwards along one side of said receptacle and lateral thereto,said lower portion continuous with an upper portion of said track whichupper portion extends to and over a portion of the top of the receptacleand there extends transversely to the length of said base frame towardthe other side of the receptacle to position whereat a portion of saidtop opening is located below and between said top portions of saidtracks, b. the frame moving means comprising a power source supported onsaid base frame and operatively connected to said container engagingassembly;
 2. said elevator assembly comprising a track assembly and aframe moving means, a. said track assembly comprising a pair of parallelrigid vertically extending tracks longitudinally spaced apart along thelength of said base frame, one of said track near the front end andother track near the rear end of said top opening, each track having alower vertical portion extending upwards along one side of saidreceptacle and lateral thereto, said lower portion continuous with anupper portion of said track which upper portion extends to and over aportion of the top of the receptacle and there extends transversely tothe length of said base frame toward the other side of the receptacle toa position whereat a portion of said top opening is located below andbetween said top portions of said tracks, b. the frame moving meanscomprising a power source supported on said base frame and operativelyconnected to said container engaging assembly;
 2. Apparatus as in claim1 comprising also, in operative connection, a. A driver''s seat,controls for said steering assembly and power source adjacent saiddriver''s seat, b. First control means operatively connected to all ofsaid double-acting pistons to concurrently expand or contract all ofsaid first pair of piston units, said second pair of said piston unitsand said third piston units, c. And second control means operativelyconnected to said frame moving means and, for concurrent operationthereof, to said means for closing said lid over said top opening, d.And separate control means for said first piston units, separate controlmeans for said second piston units and separate control means for saidthird piston unit, and e. Means for surveillance of said top opening andlid located adjacent said first and second control means, said firstcontrol means and said second control means and said separate controlmeans and said means for surveillance being located in a zone adjacentsaid driver''s seat.
 2. Said elevator assembly comprising a trackassembly and a frame moving means, a. Said track assembly comprising apair of parallel rigid vertically extending tracks, both of said tracksfirmly attached to the base frame and longitudinally spaced apart alongthe said frame, one near each end of said top opening of saidreceptacle, each track also extending upwards along one side of saidreceptacle and over a portion of the top thereof; b. the frame movingmeans comprising a power source supported on said base frame andoperatively connected to said container engaging assembly;
 2. Saidelevator assembly comprising a track assembly and a frame moving means,a. Said track assembly comprising a pair of parallel rigid verticallyextending tracks, both of said tracks firmly attached to the base frameand longitudinally spaced apart along the said frame, one near each endof said top opening of said receptacle, each track also extendingupwards along one side of said receptacle and over a portion of the topthereof; b. the frame moving means comprising a power source supportedon said base frame and operatively connected to said container engagingassembly;
 3. Said container engaging assembly comprising an expansibleframe assembly, a container engaging means, and a positioning controlassembly therefor, said container engaging means supported on saidexpansible frame assembly, which assembly is movably supported on saidtrack means and operatively connected to said frame moving means; a.Said expansible frame assembly comprising an interior frame, an exteriorframe with a container engaging means and a control and positioningassembly; i. The interior frame comprising rigid vertically spaced aparthorizontally extending upper and lower members and rigid horizontallyspaced apart vertically extending front and rear members firmly joinedtogether and forming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame alsoincluding movable support means extending to and movably held on saidtrack assembly, said frame moving means comprising power means and powertransmission means connected thereto for moving said interior framealong said track means by support means connected to said interiorframe; ii. The exterior frame comprising vertically spaced aparthorizontally extending exterior frame front and rear vertical membersand horizontally spaced apart vertically extending exterior framehorizontal top and bottom members firmly joined together to form a rigidouter frame located lateral of said interior frame; b. Said containerengaging means comprising rigid container arm support means movablysupported on said exterior frame and extensible at right angles fromsaid exterior frame, and extension and retraction means on said outerframe connected to said container arm support means to position saidrigid container arm support means on said exterior frame;
 3. Saidcontainer engaging assembly comprising an expansible frame assembly, acontainer engaging means, and a positioning control assembly therefor,said container engaging means supported on said expansible frameassembly, which assembly is movably supported on said track means andoperatively connected to said frame moving means; a. Said expansibleframe assembly comprising an interior frame, an exterior frame with acontainer engaging means and a control and positioning assembly; i. Theinterior frame comprising rigid vertically spaced apart horizontallyextending upper and lower members and rigid horizontally spaced apartvertically extending front and rear members firmly joined together andforming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame also including movablesupport means extending to and movably held on said track assembly, saidframe moving means comprising power means and power transmission meansconnected thereto for moving said interior frame along said track meansby support means connected to said interior frame; ii. The exteriorframe comprising vertically spaced apart horizontally extending exteriorframe front and rear vertical members and horizontally spaced apartvertically extending exterior frame horizontal top and bottom membersfirmly joined together to form a rigid outer frame located lateral ofsaid interior frame; b. Said container engaging means comprising rigidcontainer arm support means movably supported on said exterior frame andextensible at right angles from said exterior frame, and extension andretraction means on said outer frame connected to said container armsupport means to position said rigid container arm support means on saidexterior frame;
 3. Apparatus for remotely controlled handling, lifting,emptying and returning a container comprising a container handling andtransport assembly, said container handling and transport assemblycomprising a wheeled support frame, an elevator assembly supported onthe wheeled support frame, and a container engaging assembly movablysupported by said elevator assembly
 3. Said container engaging assemblycomprising a laterally expansible frame assembly and a containerengaging means, and a remote positioning control assembly therefor, saidcontainer engaging means supported on said laterally expansible frameassembly, which expansible frame assembly is movably supported on saidtrack means and operatively connected to said frame moving means, and isextensible horizontally bodily from one position located at the side ofsaid apparatus and lateral of the outline of said wheeled support frameand the wheels thereon to a second position further lateral thereof atthe bottom of said track assembly whereby to engage a container locatedlaterally of the lateral outline of said apparatus and supported on theground, a. said expansible frame assembly comprising an interior frame,an exterior rigid frame with a container engaging means and a framecontrol and positioning assembly therefor operatively connected thereto;i. the interior frame comprising rigid vertically spaced aparthorizontally extending upper and lower members and rigid horizontallyspaced apart vertically extending front and rear members spaced apartalong the length of said wheeled support frame and firmly joinedtogether and forming a rigid flat frame, said interior frame alsoincluding movable support means extending to and movably held on saidtrack assembly, said frame moving means comprising remote control meansin said cab and power means and power transmission means connectedthereto for moving said interior frame along said track means by supportmeans connected to said interior frame; ii. the exterior framecomprising vertically spaced apart horizontally extending exterior framefront and rear vertical members and horizontally spaced apart verticallyextending exterior frame horizontal top and bottom members firmly joinedtogether to form a rigid outer frame located lateral of said interiorframe and lateral to said wheeled support frame and the wheels thereon;b. said container engaging means comprising rigid container arm supportmeans movably supported on said exterior frame and extensible at rightangles from said exterior frame, and extension and retraction means onsaid outer frame connected to said container arm support means toposition said rigid container arm support means on said exterior frame;3. said container engaging assembly comprising a bodily laterallyextensible frame assembly and a container engaging means and apositioning control assembly therefor, said container engaging meanssupported on said laterally extensible frame assembly, which extensibleframe assembly is movably supported and is operatively connected to saidframe moving means and is extensible bodily horizontally from oneposition located at the side of said apparatus and lateral of theoutline of said wheeled support frame and the wheels thereon to a secondposition further lateral thereof at the bottom of said track assemblywhereby to engage a container located laterally of the lateral outlineof said apparatus and supported on the ground; a. said extensible frameassembly comprising a rigid interior frame and an exterior rigid framewith a container engaging means and a frame control and positioningassembly therefor operatively connected thereto; i. the interior framecomprising horizontally extending rigid horizontally spaced apart frontand rear members spaced apart along the length of said wheeled supportframe and firmly joined together and forming a rigid flat frame, saidinterior frame also including movable means operatively connected tosaid track assembly, said frame moving means comprising remote controlmeans in said cab and power means and power transmission means connectedthereto for moving said interior frame along support means connected tosaid interior frame; ii. the exterior frame comprising a horizontallyextending exterior frame member and horizontally spaced apart verticallyextending exterior members also spaced apart along length of saidwheeled support frame and firmly joined together to form a rigid outerframe bodily located lateral of said interior frame and lateral to saidwheeled support frame and the wheels thereon; b. said container engagingmeans comprising rigid container arm support means supported on saidexterior frame and extending from said exterior frame, and movable yetfirm positioning means on said exterior frame connected to saidcontainer arm support means to position said rigid container arm supportmeans on said exterior frame;
 4. Said frame control and positioningmeans comprising means for supporting said outer frame on said innerframe and remote control means and power means operatively connectedthereto for moving said outer frame toward and away from said innerframe and for pivoting said outer frame about horizontal axes relativeto said inner frame at top of said track assembly, and wherein saidframe control and positioning means comprises, in operative combination,a plurality of extensible double-acting piston units, each such pistonunit comprising a piston cylinder and an extensible shaft therein, eachsuch piston unit having a pivotal connection means at each end thereof;a. One pair of said piston units extending from a first pair of co-axialpivotal connections at the front and rear upper portions of the innerframe to a second pair of co-axial pivotal connections at the frontupper and rear upper portion of said outer frame; b. A second pair ofpiston units each vertically spaced away from and below said firstpiston units and extending from a third pair of co-axial points ofpivotal attachment on said inner frame to a fourth pair of co-axialpivotal connections on the outer frame near the lower portion of saidouter frame, said third pivotal connections and said first pivotalconnections being vertically spaced apart from each other in onedirection and said fourth pivotal connections and said second pivotalconnections being vertically spaced apart from each other in the sameone direction, and c. A third piston unit extending from a fifth pivotalconnection on the lower portion of said inner frame to a sixth pivotalconnection on the upper portion of said outer frame, said fifth pivotalconnection on said outer frame and said sixth pivotal connection beingvertically spaced apart, and d. Said sixth pivotal connection beingco-axial with said second pivotal connections, said movable supportmeans comprising a plurality of wheels on each side of said frame, eachsaid wheel located in operative engagement with one of said track means,each said track means having one ledge extending centrally and one ledgeextending laterally of each such wheel.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3comprising also a top lid movable over said top opening into opening andclosing relationship therewith and means for closing and opening saidlid over said top opening operatively attached to said lid.
 4. saidframe control and positioning means comprising means for supporting saidexterior frame on said interior frame and remote control means and powermeans operatively connected thereto for shifting the exterior framerelative to the interior frame; and comprising also means for pivotingand inverting said exterior frame about a horizontal axis relative tosaid interior frame at top of said track assembly, said means to pivotsaid exterior frame including means operatively connected to saidexterior frame and said interior frame to pivot and invert said exteriorframe, wherein said means to pivot and invert is shiftable duringextension and retraction of said exterior frame.
 4. Said frame controland positioning means comprising means for supporting said outer frameon said inner frame and for moving said outer frame toward and away fromsaid inner frame and for pivoting said outer frame about horizontal axesrelative to said inner frame, and wherein said frame control andpositioning means comprises, in operative combination, a plurality ofextensible double-acting piston units, each such piston unit comprisinga piston cylinder and an extensible shaft therein, each such piston unithaving a pivotal connection means at each end thereof; a. One pair ofsaid piston units extending from a first pair of co-axial pivotalconnections at the front and rear upper portions of the inner frame to asecond pair of co-axial pivotal connections at the front upper and rearupper portion of said outer frame; b. A second pair of piston units eachvertically spaced away from and below said first piston units andextending from a third pair of co-axial points of pivotal attachment onsaid inner frame to a fourth pair of co-axial pivotal connections on theouter frame near the lower portion of said outer frame, said thirdpivotal connections and said first pivotal connections being verticallyspaced apart from each other in one direction and said fourth pivoTalconnections and said second pivotal connections being vertically spacedapart from each other in the same one direction, and c. A third pistonunit extending from a fifth pivotal connection on the lower portion ofsaid inner frame to a sixth pivotal connection on the upper portion ofsaid outer frame, said fifth pivotal connection on said outer frame andsaid sixth pivotal connection being vertically spaced apart, and d. Saidsixth pivotal connection being co-axial with said second pivotalconnections, said movable support means comprising a plurality of wheelson each side of said frame, each said wheel located in operativeengagement with one of said track means, each said track means havingone ledge extending centrally and one ledge extending laterally of eachsuch wheel.
 4. Said frame control and positioning means comprising meansfor supporting said outer frame on said inner frame and for moving saidouter frame toward and away from said inner frame and for pivoting saidouter frame about horizontal axes relative to said inner frame, andwherein said frame control and positioning means comprises, in operativecombination, a plurality of extensible double-acting piston units, eachsuch piston unit comprising a piston cylinder and an extensible shafttherein, each such piston unit having a pivotal connection means at eachend thereof; a. One pair of said piston units extending from a firstpair of co-axial pivotal connections at the front and rear upperportions of the inner frame to a second pair of co-axial pivotalconnections at the front upper and rear upper portion of said outerframe; b. A second pair of piston units each vertically spaced away fromand below said first piston units and extending from a third pair ofco-axial points of pivotal attachment on said inner frame to a fourthpair of co-axial pivotal connections on the outer frame near the lowerportion of said outer frame, said third pivotal connections and saidfirst pivotal connections being vertically spaced apart from each otherin one direction and said fourth pivoTal connections and said secondpivotal connections being vertically spaced apart from each other in thesame one direction, and c. A third piston unit extending from a fifthpivotal connection on the lower portion of said inner frame to a sixthpivotal connection on the upper portion of said outer frame, said fifthpivotal connection on said outer frame and said sixth pivotal connectionbeing vertically spaced apart, and d. Said sixth pivotal connectionbeing co-axial with said second pivotal connections, said movablesupport means comprising a plurality of wheels on each side of saidframe, each said wheel located in operative engagement with one of saidtrack means, each said track means having one ledge extending centrallyand one ledge extending laterally of each such wheel.
 5. Apparatus forremotely controlled handling, lifting, emptying and returning acontainer comprising a container handling and transport assembly, saidcontainer handling and transport assembly comprising a wheeled supportframe, an elevator assembly supported on the wheeled support frame, anda container engaging assembly movably supported by said elevatorassembly frame,
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 comprising also, in operativeconnection, a. A driver''s seat, controls for said steering assembly andpower source adjacent said driver''s seat, b. First control meansoperatively connected to all of said double-acting pistons toconcurrently expand or contract all of said first pair of piston units,said second pair of said piston units and said third piston units, c.And second control means operatively connected to said frame movingmeans and, for concurrent operation thereof, to said means for closingsaid lid over said top opening, d. And separate control means for saidfirst piston units, separate control means for said second piston unitsand separate control means for said third piston unit, and e. Means forsurveillance of said top opening and lid located adjacent said first andsecond control means, said first control means and said second controlmeans and said separate control means and said means for surveillancebeing located in a zone adjacent said driver''s seat.